nadler
Super User
Joined: February 25 2006
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 354
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| Posted: June 28 2006 at 14:21 | IP Logged
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In April I asked whether the AB8SS automated speaker selector would work with PowerHome. I was told it would and was asked to report back if I bought it. Well, I bit the bullet and bought it. For $169.00 plus shipping this device is amazing. I was trying to emulate most functions of a sophisticated whole house audio system on the cheap and I think I did.
You can connect up to 8 pairs of speakers and 2 amps. You then can switch between any speakers and the 2 amps using IR, X-10 (you need a TW523 or equivalent) or RS232). It comes with no instructions, but it's pretty self explanatory and there is a website with relevent info here.
In my case I put together whole house audio using this switch and inexpensive speakers. I connected my Receiver in one room as one amp and I connected my PC's audio output to an old stereo amp I had and then to the switch. My PC's in another room and the switch is in the basement in a wiring closet. I also placed the old stereo receiver in the closet. Using either a remote control (in my case a Harmony 890 using RF or IR), it's included IR remote, X-10 or RS232 (which I haven't tried)or most importantly PowerHome I can switch between the receiver, PC playing MP3 or TSS announcements. When a TSS announcement plays from Powerhome it automatically switches to the correct amp and the correct speakers.
What the AB8SS doesn't do is play both amps at the same time. It can't play the PC through one or more set of speakers and the Receiver through another set. But in my case, I wasn't looking for that functionality.
The only downside I can see (beside the fact that it won't play both amps at the same time) is the X-10 part. It's implemented well, but as you know, because of powerline noise etc., not every command goes through all the time. What I did (beside buy more filters) was create a macro that sends the X-10 command 3 times with 1 sec pauses in between. This almost always works. I'm playing on switching soon to total ir implementation, which works everytime.
The AB8SS seems to be extremely well built and although I've been only using it a month, I recommend it.
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PowerHome Messageboard : PowerHome General
Topic: AB8SS automated Speaker Selector
